I am a poet from New Jersey, which almost seems a contradiction in terms, but the state has an active and renowned artistic community. Having published more than 1,200 poems, many of which are ekphrastic, I have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net and the Rhysling Award. My latest chapbook, Mind Over Matta (Flutter Press, 2015), is based on the creations of one of my favorite artists, Roberto Matta Echauren, a Chilean abstract surrealist.​

THREE POEMS BASED ON PAINTINGS BY RON DAVIS​

Author's Note: These poems are all based on the abstract work of Ron Davis. Responding to purely abstract work through poetry with meaning can be daunting, but I have attempted to walk that thin line. Like Davis' art, my "interpretations" are minimalist and highly structured. Davis, like no one before or since, had the aesthetic and spatial sensibilities of an architect.

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U Invert (567)

Contradictions of lightconversions of nightto bright awakeningsU and I inverted as we arein the morning of our dayeach in a separate universeso close, so far awaywe never speakwe never touchwe barely knowhow much the samewe are.

​Arch Duo and Vented Star

​Past and futurenow and thentime an arch or morepassing throughthe architectureof the stars there is consolationin geometrythe structureof the universeas if it were conceivedand draftedon a table topby the hand of man.

Green Un-Square Twist

An un-circlebe it what it ishas no reasonto revolvearound a nucleusof green.

A square un-doneis purposelesswithout its equal sidesand never stands alonewithout the helpof green.

And weun-human as we arewithout a senseof hope in grassand treessee no reasonto evolve.